Diri advocates States to manage fund to tackle ecological challenges

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has advocated states to take charge of management of the funds for ecological challenges in the country and not the Federal Government in Abuja.

Diri expressed concern over the current situation where the ecological fund was managed in Abuja by people that know little or nothing about the ecological problems of the states.

Diri made this statement at Government House, Yenagoa, when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund.

A statement on Saturday by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as applauding the committee for the visit, adding that Bayelsa State needed sufficient ecological fund given its numerous environmental challenges.

He hinted that the ecological committee of the House of Reps was relevant to Bayelsa because the state was below sea level and had many ecological problems.

Diri said, “I appeal that if we want this country to develop, then we have to sit up as legislators so that at the end of the day, the executive arm will know that there is an arm of government that has been given that responsibility to oversight and ensure that there are checks and balances.

“These ecological issues are actually in the states but ecological funds are in the centre and managed by people who do not know anything about the ecological problems. So when we talk about the ecological problems we have in our states, they do not understand.”

Diri explained that Nigeria would be a better place to live in if legislators lived up to expectation, noting that the legislative arm of government is the bastion of democracy given its constitutional powers.

The chairman, House Committee on Ecological Fund, Isiaka Ibrahim, announced that they were in the state as part of their oversight function as well as seeking areas of partnership with the state government.

He assured that members of the committee were ready to help the governor succeed and advised him to feel free to approach the committee for support in areas within its power.